U.S. Men’s Soccer Team Defies the Odds, Advances to Knockout Stage of World Cup

Thursday’s 1-0 loss to Germany in Recife, Brazil wasn’t enough to oust the Americans from the tournament. Despite an underwhelming performance, despite injuries and poor play, despite elite players across from them, a ridiculous traveling schedule and uncomfortable pitch conditions, the U.S. emerged from the Group of Death.

It wasn’t as thrilling as the two previous games. Certainly not as emotional as beating Germany would have been. But Portugal’s 2-1 win over Ghana negated the need for a U.S. tie or win.

In many ways, though, it was fitting. Torrential rains and a focused German side increased the degree of difficulty. The mucky field, a short turnaround after playing in the cursed Manaus, Brazil clearly robbed the U.S. of pizzazz. Yet they pulled it off.

That’s how this team rolls, clearly. They are a magnet for drama, dangling a nation on the edge of heartbreak. But somehow, they seem to do enough, whatever enough takes.

The U.S. will likely face Belgium on Tuesday at 1 p.m. (PST). Very few had them advancing to the knockout rounds when the group pairings were released. Germany and Portugal, two of the most prestigious countries in the sport — featuring two of the world’s best players in Thomas Muller and Christiano Ronaldo — were the class of the group. And Ghana had knocked the U.S. out of consecutive World Cups.

On top of that, coach Jurgen Klinsmann had taken a bunch of young, inexperienced players with him to Brazil. No way they advance, right? Wrong.

Then star Jozy Altidore got hurt minutes into the opener. Then Clint Dempsy had his nose broken on a defender’s shin. Then Michael Bradley, arguably the team’s best player, lost his mojo and became a liability.

But the U.S. overcame it all. The doubt and criticism. Ghana. A devastating, last-minute tie to Portugal. The inexperience of their several key players. The extreme heat of Game 2. The sloppy mush of Game 3.

They subdued all the odds. Now, they have earned a special place in American sports history.